Packing Creative Extras: 2011
While we're fanatic about packing light, we all slip a goofy little extra in. Which soothing, handy, or fun packing extravagances can you justify?
Read the Distillation: Best of Packing Creative Extras, 2005
- Please don't post questions here. Use our Travelers Helpline.
Make up
For the ladies who cant live without some make up, try using double duty items. Tinted moisterizers with an SPF work really well, bronzer adds color to the face and can double duty on the eyes, small multi color eye make up trays can be used for eyes, brows and eye liner. Check out the multi product compacts that are available. Alot of perfume brands will come in a "roller ball" wand with is no bigger than a mascara tube, or you could get a sample from the counter!
Shelly
Calgary, AB Canada Fri 12/30/2011
Starched Clothes
Before going on any long trip, we have our blue jeans (and khaki pants) laundered and heavily starched at our local dry cleaners. You can wear them for as many days as you can stand it--and they still look great.
David V.
Florence, AL USA Wed 12/21/2011
Winter Dry Skin
To prevent skin dryness, chapped lips, scaly legs, fissured hands and skin tightness due to exposure to cold temperature (and sometimes due to heated rooms), apply a humectant - skin lotion used to reduce the loss of moisture - then sealing it with a another product that will keep the moisture in.
Reduce intake of alcohol and caffeine and as much as possible avoid smoking for these will enhance dryness. If smoking and drinking can't be avoided, drink at least 2 liters of water a day. Avoid long hot baths for this can cause skin dehydration.
Petroleum jelly such as Vaseline is a MUST for travelers during winter.
Jojo Layon
Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines Thu 12/08/2011
Electrical cube tap adapter
Carrying an iPad, iPhone, iPod, iThis, iThat? Finding a sufficient number of outlets in a hotel room is rare. Take along one of those little electrical cubes called a cube tap. You'll have three outlets instead of one. You can take one European-to-U.S. adapter to plug the device in and then you'll have three U.S.-type for your U.S. devices. Also think about the presence or absence of a grounding prong.
Gene McCullough
Denver, CO USA Wed 11/30/2011
Mailing tubes
It is often recommended to pack a mailing tube to safely transport posters, lithographs etc. This I did on a recent trip to Italy. Unfortunately, the poster I purchased was larger than the 20" tube I had packed but the art store sold me a very sturdy 29" tube for 1.5 euros. I later used the smaller tube to protect a tall cylinder of lemoncello -- both items made it back to the USA in perfect condition!
Pat Lebanik
Middletown, DE USA Sat 11/19/2011
Packing creative extras
On our several trips to England, I have taken a piece or two of bubblewrap and a small tape dispenser for wrapping breakable souvenirs.
Sherry
Harpswell, ME USA Fri 10/21/2011
Wine drinkers everywhere!
When travelling I always bring a reusable cork- a wine bottle cork with a plastic end so it can be [INVALID]ed and removed easily. At restaurants we can order a whole bottle of wine (usually better than buying wine by the glass), never have to finish a bottle "just because we've paid for it" and have some wine for the next day. Try it!
www.slow-days.com
simon
Florence, --None Italy Fri 10/14/2011
Solid Perfume
I pack very light with limited wardrobe and cosmetics, but I enjoy smelling good. I've never actually traveled with perfume but I just found tiny tins of solid perfume at Wegmans grocery store, mostly floral fragrances. I'm always trolling for travel equipment so I was thrilled. They sell them on their website, too: www.pacificaperfume.com.
Arlene
Altoona, PA USA Thu 09/22/2011
A little security
Instead of using TSA locks on my luggage zippers, instead I use the black twisty ties that come packaged with electronics cables (similar to bread bag ties). They are discreet since they are black and allow me to secure the zippers from being opened or self-opening during my trip. It serves as a deterrent to curious hands and gives me a little peace of mind when I place my luggage or knapsack in a storage bin.
Alex Simms
Southington, CT USA Tue 09/13/2011
Extra pillows
We sleep with lots of pillows and always take at least one with us when we travel. On our last trip, we also took extra pillow cases and put soft clothes like sweatpants in them to serve as extra pillows.
Nancy
Fairfield, IA USA Wed 09/07/2011
Packing Light
Ladies pack wrinkle skirts/dresses; roll them up and when unrolled still look great. Scarves for around neck/around waist as belt/around head for protection from sun or as custom in host country/around hat to pull down or just to fancy the hat up. Tie very nice kerchief around wrist to use when needed to wipe brow-looks good. Pair of ballet flats that have good soles- roll up- and look good and comfortable during dressy times or just an extra pair of shoes. When in host country and need to keep clean buy baby wipes to use when in transit. Battery operated hand size hand-held fans for hot transit or invest in collapsable hand fan also collapsable see through umbrella that packs small.
hartletop
somewhere, MT USA Thu 09/01/2011
CUrrency conversion "cheat sheet" cards
Before leaving for a foreign country, I type out business-card sized "currency conversion cheat sheets" - using a two column format.
For example, in one column I type the euro amount (1,5,10,20,40,50,75,100, and so on) and in the next column, the corresponding dollar equivalent.
Then I laminate (or use heavy clear package tape to "laminate") and carry in pocket, purse, etc.
If I'll be using multiple foreign currencies, I'll use the front side of the card for one currency and the back side for another.
I've even used this type of cheat sheet for temperature (celsius to fahrenheit) conversion.
The cards are a great quick reference - making it much easier to estimate the "dollar" cost of items, especially when you're on a budget.
Terry
Austin, TX USA Wed 08/31/2011
Brooches
Like many others I always travel with safety pins in case of wardrobe malfunctions. However, i also carry a nice, classic brooch that fits all my outfits. I can use it to dress something up, wear a scarf in a new way or close my cardigan (that doesn't have buttons). There are so many different styles out there, that no matter your personal style, you'll find one that suits it.
Dani
Sat 08/27/2011
Free Shampoo, Fleece, etc.
If you travel for more than a few days and pack light you will need to wash out clothing. I have found the free, hotel provided shampoo works perfectly fine for all my clothes washing. I never bring a clothes line. I just pack one plastic hanger, the type used for a women's suit - and hang that hanger over the shower head in the bathroom.
For Fall, Winter, Spring travel pack a lightweight fleece jacket. I use that instead of a bulky, space hungry, bathrobe and it is very comfortable.
We like to snack in our room so we pack a tiny, camping style salt/pepper shaker, a "prong" style cork remover, a spoon/fork combo utensil from REI, and one small plastic plate per person, all packed in a zip lock baggy. These items are light weight yet extremely handy and have never been rejected by the TSA.
NWTraveler
Seattle, WA USA Mon 08/22/2011
Creative Extras
I always pack a small jar of peanut butter for an off time snack...pick up a bread earlier in day, also instant coffee or tea bags. Often, with time changes, my appetite hits at odd times. Sometimes, you just want something simple in the room. Also will not leave without, wipes, castor oil, microfiber towel and small flashlight.
Mary A
Ann Arbor, Mich USA Sun 08/21/2011
Steri-pen and reusable aluminum bottle
An aluminum bottle and a steri-pen make my trip so much more enjoyable. Bottled water isn't always safe (especially in Mexico, where locals fill empty bottles with their home tap then sell them to tourists), and buying several bottles a day can really add up! I fill my aluminum bottle from the sink in my hotel, or public fountains, then use the steri-pen to make extra sure the water is safe for consumption.
Tiffany
Smyrna, GA USA Thu 08/11/2011
Foot brush felt great
I took a foot brush with me on a three week trip to Germany in July. It was great to be able to scrub my feet (and the inside of my rubber bottomed sandals) clean every night before bed. The brush and the sandals were dry by morning so easy to take the next day
Sally B
Hillsboro, OR USA Wed 08/10/2011
typed itinerary for lost luggage
I always pack a copy of our typed itinerary in each piece of luggage just in case our luggage is lost or delayed- I include the dates and the hotels with their address and phone number. If you arrive at an airport and are leaving immediately it can be difficult to retrieve your delayed luggage. This happened years ago in Italy, if not for a persistent operator at our hotel who spoke english we would not have gotten our luggage in Sirmione a good 3 hour train ride from Milan. Because I had the information typed out she could trace our luggage and we got it albeit 3 days later, before the next leg of our journey.
Diane
Newport Beach, CA USA Sun 08/07/2011
Baby Wipes and Altoids
---Not used in combination of course! I always pack one of those travel size pouches of antibacterial baby wipes. These are a lifesaver on a long flight or in questionable restrooms. And the Altoids are fabulous for that "red-eye flight" breath or to soothe an upset stomach.
Kim
Tulsa, OK USA Fri 08/05/2011
Foot wipes and foot lotion
After walking for hours around Venice, we would return to our room int he afternnons, take off our shoes and treat each other to soothing foo tmassages with refreshing foot wipes and peppermint foot lotion. Kept us going for man,y many more miles. that day. I will never leave home again without these essentials.
Jeanne
Sugar Land, TX USA Fri 08/05/2011
Dry-fit shirts
Dry-fit polo shirts are worth their weight in gold! We wished we had brought more. It's impossible to sweat through them and they don't wrinkle. Only downsides are cost and you always look like a golfer.
Sherry
Palo Alto, CA USA Sat 07/30/2011
Long Skirts For Churches/Monasteries/Convents
If you will be visiting churches, monasteries, or convents, I highly recommend looking at the long skirts sold by Athleta.com. I bought 2 below-the-knee skirts that were anything but dowdy. Plus they were made of technical fabrics that were sweat wicking, fast drying, and wrinkle-free.
Sherry
Palo Alto, CA USA Sat 07/30/2011
Avoiding plane germs; Peeing standing up
We travel alot and bathrooms are not always available or advisable. Go-Girl (www.go-girl.com)--helps solve the problem; or the toilet has no seat. We have used this in bathrooms, whilst hiking or on long-distance walks. Packs small, reusable and discreet. It lets you pee standing up. An option guys always have available.
When flying, we use hand sanitizer before we enter the plane and coat the inside of our nose with bacitracin--it's an ointment you can pick up in the drug store for $2-3. Helps defeat the germs.
JMA
Lakewood, OH USA Tue 07/19/2011
microfiber towel for drying wash
pack a microfiber towel. A good quality one for rolling up washed clothing and it will squeeze most of the moisture so when you hang dry, the clothes have a headstart drying. It also doubles as regular towel if you wash your face when traveling.Pack it in a zip bag. This will dry in no time on your line or hanger.
Lisa
Warren, nj USA Tue 07/19/2011
Ice Bags
One of the wonderful things about traveling in Germany and France is the cheapness of decent wine or beer when purchased at a non-touristy market. But they're usually sold non-refrigerated. A great solution is an "ice bag" that they use at restaurants in Europe and sell all over the place. A few ice cubes and some water and your wine/beer/soft drink will be chilled in a few minutes. Packs flat, is super light. Great for the beach, picnics, hotel rooms, etc.
Sarah
Stuttgart, Germany Mon 07/11/2011
Packing Creative Extras
For jet lag, I bring Melatonin. You can buy it over the counter, and it makes you sleepy in minutes. And for the hotel bathroom, I bring a small spray bottle with room deodorizer in it - saves embarrassment! Small scissors are very useful too.
Heidi
Gilbert, AZ USA Mon 07/11/2011
Earplugs
The most satisfactory earplugs I have found, and I have used them for years, at home and when travelling are "Ohropax" Classic, wax ear plugs, sold in many drug stores. They are made in Germany and are easily shaped to fit your ear. I buy the box of 12 and each pair is good for weeks of use. They also come in a box of 2 plugs. I have tried every other type and found these were best. They stay put.
YEL
Toronto, Ont Canada Fri 07/08/2011
Instant Coffee
During several trips abroad , the one thing that made me homesick was not being able to have coffee right when I woke up. The lack of caffeine coupled with jet lag made for some seriously cranky mornings even though I was lucky to be in these amazing places. I just came back from my second trip to Paris and this time I packed Starbucks VIA Mocha flavored coffee and Moo-Moo's creamer packets (no refrigeration needed). It definitely did the trick! Although I still had my second cup of coffee at a cafe, of course, I was incredibly pleased with how much better the mornings started! I'll be packing both the VIA and creamer for all my trips both domestically and internationally for here on out in case of coffee emergencies!
Jenny
Littleton, MA USA Fri 07/01/2011
Dry toiletries
I bought some cute little packages with dry shampoo sheets, conditioner sheets and body wash sheets. They don't need to go into my Qt liquid bag on the plane.
Now if I can just figure out how to remove the sheets with dry hands when I am "wash, rinse, repeat" -ing.
Denise
Kirkland, WA USA Thu 06/23/2011
clothesline
Small, rolled up length of nylon line to use as a clothesline; we didn't mind wearing pants / shirts 2-3 times, but were able to wash out undies and socks, and hang them in the hotel room to dry (if you don't have a problem w/ the maid spying your delicate items!)
Richard
Raton, NM USA Sat 06/18/2011
flat rubber sink stopper
Don't forget one of those old-fashioned white, rubber, floppy-disk-type sink stoppers. They cost about a dollar, take up no room and come in very handy in those hotel bathrooms with no stopper (most of 'em!). It beats stuffing a sock in the drain to keep the water from draining. I'll add my 2 cents to the "leaving clothes" debate. I'm all for it and always do it. And no, I don't leave "crap"! I leave very nice things that I no longer wear here at home. I don't understand why some people, who object, get so upset over the issue. If you don't want to leave things, then don't! But don't bereate those of us who do!
trudy
San Antonio, Texas USA Sat 06/18/2011
zip lock bags
Zip lock bags!!! :) Put dirty or clean items in them, sit on it, then seal it. It greatly reduces space. For dirty cloths it keeps the others fresher.
Jim
Williams Bay, Wi USA Wed 06/15/2011
Making room for souvenirs...
I'm a little perplexed by this idea: "Don't throw your old crappy clothing away in other countries! Donate it!" Hmm...is it really better to attempt to DONATE ratty clothing than to just toss it? Not to mention that I'm pretty sure people in other countries throw away old, falling-apart clothes too...
That being said, I do agree with the idea of bringing old underwear and tossing it as you go along. If it's due to be thrown out anyway, why not put it to use one last time? This rule is especially good for old socks, which take up more room than underwear usually does. Plus, you'll always have room for little things you'll find in the shops abroad.
Another thing I like to bring is a little container full of baking soda. Sprinkle a little in your shoes each day, or a little in each sock before packing them, and your feet will never, ever smell.
Lea
Belle Plaine, MN USA Sun 06/12/2011
Keeping cool
My favorite extra is a small fold up fan, the kind you buy in Asian gift stores. That and a small spray bottle of water will get even a menopausal-hot-flash sufferer like me through a hot day.
Dee
Lake Elsinore, CA USA Sat 06/11/2011
Notes about photos
To remember details about my pictures without carrying a notebook and pen, I just run the video record option occasionally and say where and when. Most digital cameras have the option to record a few moments of audio/video, and this way my notes are right there with my photos. These files can be deleted when you get home.
Sherry Moore
Paradise Valley, AZ USA Sat 05/28/2011
power strip comes in handy
With all the items needed to be charged during a trip, we bring a small power strip. Plug it in (with converter, if necessary) and everyone can plug their phone, mp3 player, camera battery. It's great to keep everything in the same area so you don't plug things all over the room and possibly forget something.
sarabeth
woodland hills, ca. USA Thu 05/12/2011
Paperwork
I have a small packet of important papers that I throw in a bag for every trip. It includes photocopies of passports, medical insurance cards, our powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney and living wills. I've seen too many people on cruises become ill and even die in another country and I want to be prepared with all the paperwork.
Marilyn
Hot Springs, AR USA Fri 05/06/2011
Extra Empty Bag
I pack an empty zip up tote bag in my suitcase. It folds flat and is made out of lightweight nylon. At the end of the trip I stuff it with our dirty clothes and use my suitcase for all the lovely new clothes and home items I have bought on the trip.
Kat
Boston, MA USA Mon 05/02/2011
My iPhone
What would I do without my iPhone? Before leaving home, I sync it with my Kindle so I have my Rick guidebooks on it. Rick has various audiotours available for download, as well as his new Audio Europe radio broadcasts. With just my iPhone, I can read from the guidebook, take pictures, make travel notes, look up maps, etc...right in the palm of my hand. Oh yeah, it's also a telephone and iPod. Fabulous for the light packing traveler.
Beth
Alsace, USA Sun 05/01/2011
and the kitchen sink....
The wife and I backpacked 12 european countries over two months and found these items critical: downy wrinkle reducer- works not only to reduce wrinkles, but also to remove odors (can also use watered down fabric softener in spray bottle), small headlight, compact binoculars (great for studying facades of cathedrals), pepto pills, tide stick, leatherman, 5-10 feet of duct tape rolled around pencil (makes compact), ipod touch with micro speakers and loaded with translator and city/metro maps. the only item that I really desired was gold bond cream.
kent
delta, alaska USA Mon 04/25/2011
oh yeah...
forgot to add a small aa charger for the ipod
kent
delta, alaska USA Mon 04/25/2011
Wearable flashlight for your head
My favourite extra is a headlamp. Literally, one of those dark caving flashlights you strap on to your head. They are small, light, and infinitely useful, especially when you want your hands free while you are stumbling around trying to find your gear in a darkened hostel room or wandering the halls looking for the bathroom in the dead of night. Well worth the investment.
Lauren
Edmongon, AB Canada Mon 04/11/2011
Portable Door Lock
Of all the creative extras I travel with, my favorite is a portable door lock that functions like these: (http://tinyurl.com/bdv3ph) (http://tinyurl.com/44srcsr) (http://tinyurl.com/3fkjlz2) Do check out the links if you are looking for something smaller, though by no means cheaper, than a door wedge.
I have yet to be in a situation where I really needed to additionally lock my door, but for the size {fits in my palm} and weight {as heavy as two soda bottle caps} of my lock, it seems to always find a place in my pack.
Jane Ko
Garner, NC USA Thu 04/07/2011
Discarding underwear = STUPID
How much room does one even save by tossing their underwear.
My Mom taught me to have good clean underwear in case of accident and having to go to a hospital. Think about it - do you really want to be seen with your ratty underwear?
I think the whole idea of leaving your ratty underwear all over Europe or any where else is terrible!
Lydia
Havertown, PA USA Sat 04/02/2011
Aaron and his underwear
I am SO tired of people thinking it's a unique idea to take their crappy underwear or shitty clothing to travel to another country and dump it there in their trash. Do you think you were the first person to come up with that idea? Do you really think it's a great idea? Do you go to a nice city in the US and take your old clothes and just leave them in the hotel for the maid to handle? Listen travelers. Set a good example for the world. Travel LIGHT, what you pack in, you should pack out. If you have old stuff, donate it to Goodwill here in the US. Take less with you on your travels, be a good neighbor to the world by showing respect to other countries.
Of all things ---OLD UNDERWEAR? At least leave a decent t-shirt that someone might be able to use after you, but don't leave it in the trash! Donate.
Sick of people leaving their trash in other countries
A person who cares about our enviornment, USA Thu 03/31/2011
Underwear!
Sounds crazy but I pack all my worst underwear...the ones that are in really bad shape. I bring enough so I just wear them once then throw them away. Forget bringing back a suitcase full of dirty shorts. It makes room for a few more trinkets too.
Aaron
Missoula, Mt USA Tue 03/15/2011
Toilet Seat Liners
Toilet Seat Covers-I have used the little packs of paper seat covers for travel and in the car, however, some years ago, I realized that the plastic bags from most stores are about the same size as the paper seat covers. I found I can cut two seat liners from each plastic bag. I've been using these plastic seat liners for several years now and find them very easy to make and pack in small bags for use during travel and to keep in my every day bag. The best part is that they are plastic so no direct contact with whatever may be on the seat. Of course, these covers must not be flushed but rather placed in trash cans. The covers can also be made from many types of plastic film materials we receive and cannot recycle-dry cleaner bags, packaging material, etc.
DCA
CA USA Sun 03/13/2011
Things I add
I buy a pr of cheap socks to wear on outbound flt., thru security, etc & then kick my shoes off for for the whole transatlantic flt. I pitch them as I get off plane since I've worn them to the yucky wc etc. Also have ziplock bag that lives in my lingere drawer labeled "WAPS" for wear and pitch. When underwear begins to get ratty I tuck it in the bag & wear my waps @ beginning of trip. (At night when I undress -- wap -- I throw the panties in the trash can.) Have found bringing a few tea towels very handy. I carry 1 on flts. & to put in my lap when I eat or drink like a giant napkin. Much easier to rinse out than my travel suit. Also handy for picnic cloth etc. Once I even put the dishcloth over my face on a long flt. when seat mate turned out to have HORRIBLE breath; told her I had migraine & needed to block out light. I carry on my pashmina too & use it like blanket or to cover my head so I can sleep... shake it out & wear it to concert or opera. My daughter's luggage has gotten drenched on several trips & all contents wet. She now puts big garbage bag inside suitcase & tucks garments inside the bag.
lucie
st francisville, la USA Tue 03/08/2011
Alternative to money belt
I'm a HUGE Rick fan (just attended one of his seminars in MPLS today) but for anyone who hates adding bulk around their waist (money belt/pouch) I found the clear deal at Magellan's. It's an ankle wallet that secures with velcro & is large enough to hold 2 passports & your larger cash reserve. It is hidden under your pant leg, very comfortable to wear & convenient to retrieve money, etc. when you need it.
Faye
Dassel, MN USA Sun 03/06/2011
earplugs
Don't forget a few good earplugs for a better sleep.
Giuseppe Nero
london ontario, ont Canada Sun 02/27/2011
Nebook Benefits
For both of our trips to Europe in the past year, we've taken the netbook we own with us and it's been great to have with us.
We've used it to back up camera memory cards onto a jump drive; to keep travel info (including address books) on a jump drive; to look up restaurants (or other finds) online while traveling and check menus and locations on GoogleMaps; to make reservations for sights.
The convenience of being able to access the internet at the beginning or end of the day (for weather, especially during a recent winter trip to Paris) was great (and easier than trying to find and work around internet cafe hours). If you're staying somewhere with WiFi, it's definitely worth making space for!
PlannerGrl
Washington, DC USA Sun 02/27/2011
Extra hook
I've found it useful to pack 1-2 plastic over-the-door hooks. Helpful for hanging shower kit, for clothes etc when hangers are few, even works on hostel bunk-edge.
Mary
Vancouver, BC USA Tue 02/15/2011
Bring a winter hat
I don't know if it should go here or in the packing light section but....
If you are going anywhere the least bit cool bring a good knit winter hat.
It is my experience that a winter hat plus a windbreaker and a fleece is considerable warmer than windbreaker plus 2 fleece and no hat. And almost as warm as three fleece and windbreaker. But the hat takes up a fraction of the space in the luggage as a second or third fleece.
Might not be worth bring a winter coat to Europe for one day in the alps, but find room for the winter hat.
Ed
albany, ny USA Mon 02/14/2011
Magic Gloves
Unless you're traveling during the middle of summer, bring a pair of gloves. The little $1.99 stretchy gloves you can pick up at a drug store are perfect, nothing fancy, no big deal if you lose them. I figured I would never use them on my trip to Spain & Italy last year, but they ended up being total lifesavers when we got to Venice on a freezing cold, windy, rainy day. They made it possible for me not to be totally miserable walking around outside and kept me from having to spend my first day in Italy trying to keep warm indoors. I would never have thought I would have actually used them (it was mid-September), but I did, and was very glad I had them.
Krissi
Seattle, WA USA Sun 02/13/2011
packing
i never,never travel without blister pads you can find them in band aid section
no matter how broken in those shoes are a overly humid day or long walk and youll be glad you have them in your first aid kit they will stay on for a couple day even though a shower
cathy murray
swanton,, ohio USA Sun 02/13/2011
How a carryon packer deals with bag checkers in the family
I've traveled internationally all my life, and still do quite a lot for work, so I have been a convert to living out of one carryon-size bag for years, now. My wife still can't bring herself to do it. After her luggage was lost when she accompanied me on a business trip to Spain, I came up with a plan for subsequent travels. She packs a change of underwear and an extra outfit in my bag. That way, if her luggage is lost, she's still good to go for the day that it usually takes to get it back. When we travel with our kids, my wife shares her suitcase with our 3 year old daughter, so we put an extra outfit or two of hers in my suitcase as well. We've done it for my stepson in the past, but now that he's 13 I am going to really work on him to be a carryon guy. If their emergency clothes take up too much space in my bag, I just transfer some shirts and extra underwear into theirs.
Mark
Houston, TX USA Tue 02/08/2011
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps
I use Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps (http://www.drbronner.com/index.html) as a body soap and a hair shampoo and it works great! And since it's a bar, it doesn't take up room in your ziploc toiletry bag.
Andy Perry
Louisville, KY USA Wed 01/12/2011
Having more clean clothes to wear
Everyone has clothes that they wash and think they will wear again, but never do. I bring what I need and then I don't have to do laundry. I throw them away each day. The maids love them. You then have room to bring your trinkets back. I make copies of my passport and itinery and back and front of Then I put one copy of the passport in my wallet along with my eticket and cash needed for that one day. In my travel waist wallet under my clothing goes my real passport, ccards & travel itinery. I never, never wear any jewlery as even cheap stuff often looks real enough to get you robbed or at least harmed. ALWAYS< ALWAYS, Imodine AD Advanced, Leno says why would you want less than advanced. Small tube o cortosone for bug bites, cuts and maybe 2 or three bandaids. Small flashlight, travelers alarm clock, Wash cloth but i you forget it buy a hand towel and cut it in squares. I throw in the hotel shampoo an bar soap. Some hotels use the kitchen dishsoap in a dispenser on the shower wall, YUK. Packets of hand wipes makes great tp. REI has a lightweight jacket that scrunches down to palm size and has it's own bag. Good luck, don't lose your tickets. I liked someones idea of you having a set o clothes in your friends luggage and on of theirs in yours in case your luggage gets lost.
Barb
Boise, id USA Fri 01/07/2011
Packing essentials
Americans going to Germany need to note that Germans do not use wash cloths. At hotels, you have to request one.
Patricia Bedtelyon
Williamsburg, VA USA Wed 01/05/2011